Get a Windows 10 licence for free if you register on Windows Insider

[Laurijan]

This free Win10 for insiders is great. I was going to buy Win7 just for upgrading later to Win10 but it seems i can save some money now.

 

[silkstone]

This free Win10 for insiders is great. I was going to buy Win7 just for upgrading later to Win10 but it seems i can save some money now.

I put it on my Laptop to try out over the holiday. I'm hoping it's a simple matter of entering a valid Win10 key to opt out of the insider preview program.

 

[GhostRyder]

If your wondering about the Microsoft Windows 10 being free for insiders here is a link with Microsoft explaining how that works:
http://www.theverge.com/2015/6/22/8...o-explain-who-really-gets-windows-10-for-free

If you are part of the insider program you will receive a free copy of the OS so long as you keep allowing it to update to test builds/betas that are not public. So essentially you are still testing the OS so you have the chance of running into a bug more than a normal copy not to mention the other attributes of the windows insider program.

Still not a bad deal overall for a free OS...

 

[silkstone]

If your wondering about the Microsoft Windows 10 being free for insiders here is a link with Microsoft explaining how that works:
http://www.theverge.com/2015/6/22/8...o-explain-who-really-gets-windows-10-for-free

If you are part of the insider program you will receive a free copy of the OS so long as you keep allowing it to update to test builds/betas that are not public. So essentially you are still testing the OS so you have the chance of running into a bug more than a normal copy not to mention the other attributes of the windows insider program.

Still not a bad deal overall for a free OS...

Good deal for my HTPC and kids' laptop that are rarely used.

 

[Aquinus]

I never understood how that's legal, but yeah, it seems to be what they're gunning for.

I mean, why should a license vaporize because your hardware changed?

That only happens when 3 or more "devices" have changed on the machine. If you call up MS support, do phone activation, then talk to someone and explain to them that you have to replace hardware in your machine, they will give you the telephone activation code. Before I had access to a legitimate volume license, I had to do that almost every time I upgraded.

 

[FordGT90Concept]

Good deal for my HTPC and kids' laptop that are rarely used.

I wouldn't advise that unless you want Microsoft spying on you and you like reinstalling Windows every second Tuesday of the month. I wasn't in any beta programs and I've had Windows Update ravage computers before. Hell, not that long ago, there was that update that broke all installers (there's a thread related to the AMD Catalyst Omega drivers about it). The only systems I could see putting this on are those used for testing hardware too where Windows reinstalls is a common thing anyway.

If you elect to leave the testing program, your license is invalid.

It is not "free." There's lots of strings attached and it can end up costing you a lot of time. Time is money.

 

[silkstone]

I wouldn't advise that unless you want Microsoft spying on you and you like reinstalling Windows every second Tuesday of the month. I wasn't in any beta programs and I've had Windows Update ravage computers before. Hell, not that long ago, there was that update that broke all installers (there's a thread related to the AMD Catalyst Omega drivers about it). The only systems I could see putting this on are those used for testing hardware too where Windows reinstalls is a common thing anyway.

If you elect to leave the testing program, your license is invalid.

It is not "free." There's lots of strings attached and it can end up costing you a lot of time. Time is money.

No biggie if one of them go down, I'll just keep regular images. It's better than paying a bunch for systems that are rarely used or pirating.

 

[MrGenius]

I kind of wish I could quit thinking about this. But I came up with some more annoying questions today, unfortunately. That I can't answer very easily. So here's my hypothetical:

Let's say I installed a fresh copy of 7 Pro from a brand new unopened OEM DVD(from Dell, or HP, etc., and available all over ebay). But I didn't activate it before upgrading to 10. Since I knew I didn't need to do that first(though I tried to anyways, see below). But I also know that I really have 2 product keys for 7. One I purchased separately from the OEM DVD, and the one on the DVD itself. Now I also know the product key on the DVD is basically useless. M$ knows you can find out what that product key is with free downloadable software, and they aren't letting you use it to activate your copy of windows anymore(I don't know for sure if they ever have, at least on hardware that didn't originally have that version of windows installed from the OEM, but it's still there regardless). I know for a fact the product key on my OEM 7 Pro DVD won't work for activation of 7 Pro on my PC, because I tried using it, and no go(probably because my hardware didn't originally have 7 installed on it from the OEM, but I can't say for sure). My questions are, have they changed their minds about that since I've upgraded to 10? Have they allowed that product key on the 7 OEM DVD to activate 10 now?

I have to ask because there appears to be something unusual occurring with my upgraded 10 install. Yesterday I jumped ship from the current build 10130 to the leaked build 10147. And having done my homework first, I noticed that many people are having to use a generic product key to activate it before being able to use it. This is new with build 10147, so far as I've gathered(wasn't required prior, it was automatic). So I printed the generic keys first, then went ahead an upgraded to 10147. Expecting to need a key at some point. But I didn't need to use one, build 10147 is already activated on my computer(somehow). Are the generic keys just for clean installs of build 10147 only? Did I not need to use a generic key to activate it because they've already used the key from the 7 OEM DVD to pre-activate me? Where am I at here? I'm not thinking of any way to answer these questions precisely. And like I said, I'm pretty sick of trying to figure it all out. So I'm asking you guys. Help me out here...please! Tell me what, if anything, you know about this. My brain hurts.

And no, I have no intentions of continuing as an insider after 7/29. I'm bailing out of the insider program ASAP. It's totally not worth having a half-broken PC all the time, just to get a free OS. I've had just about all of that I can take too. And yes, future 10 users, you're welcome for my time and patience beta testing for you what should turn out to be a fairly decent OS.

 

[Pill Monster]

I have to ask because there appears to be something unusual occurring with my upgraded 10 install. Yesterday I jumped ship from the current build 10130 to the leaked build 10147. And having done my homework first, I noticed that many people are having to use a generic product key to activate it before being able to use it. This is new with build 10147, so far as I've gathered(wasn't required prior, it was automatic). So I printed the generic keys first, then went ahead an upgraded to 10147. Expecting to need a key at some point. But I didn't need to use one, build 10147 is already activated on my computer(somehow). Are the generic keys just for clean installs of build 10147 only? Did I not need to use a generic key to activate it because they've already used the key from the 7 OEM DVD to pre-activate me? Where am I at here? I'm not thinking of any way to answer these questions precisely. And like I said, I'm pretty sick of trying to figure it all out. So I'm asking you guys. Help me out here...please! Tell me what, if anything, you know about this. My brain hurts.

And no, I have no intentions of continuing as an insider after 7/29. I'm bailing out of the insider program ASAP. It's totally not worth having a half-broken PC all the time, just to get a free OS. I've had just about all of that I can take too. And yes, future 10 users, you're welcome for my time and patience beta testing for you what should turn out to be a fairly decent OS.

The free upgrade is for testers with an insider account that was registered before build 10130. From what I understand.....

To be on the insider hub you need to log in to Windows with an MS account, I guess they'll send keys through email or something

 

[MrGenius]

The free upgrade applies to beta testers who have an MS insider account and were registered before build 10130. To be on the insider hub you need to log in to Windows with an MS account.

Done, and done.

BTW, you can't even log on to build 10147 without being signed in to your M$ account. You need to log on with your M$ account password just to use it. Every time you start/restart/log off/sign out your PC it's password time now.

 

[Pill Monster]

Done, and done.

BTW, you can't even log on to build 10147 without being signed in to your M$ account. You need to log on with your M$ account password just to use it. Every time you start/restart/log off/sign out your PC it's password time now.

You can log in with either a local account or your MS account, the insider login is just if you want access the hub. But as long as your part of the insider program before 10130 you should be all good....

Edit: Just gonna double check on that....brb

Yeah you can still switch, .....go to user accounts and change sign in to local... You may be right though about first signing in with an MS account this build.

Tbh I can't remember how I first logged on.

 

[MrGenius]

Ok, you might be right there. I can't recall exactly what they told me yesterday about all that. All I can remember is "please enter your M$ account password so we can verify some damn thing or another, then give us your email address twice, so we send you an email with a security code, which you'll need to enter here, to further verify some damn thing or another". And I don't know what other passwords I have besides my M$ account password, which definitely works to log on to build 10147. And I'm pretty sure also verifies that I'm part of the insider program. As I wouldn't be able to use any previous builds(since an M$ account/insider program membership is a prerequisite), and I can't log on to build 10147, without it. I don't believe there's any difference between having an M$ account and participating in the insider program, other than using a W10 preview build or not using one. I didn't actually sign up for the insider program, I signed up for an M$ account. Which in turn, allowed me to become part of the insider program by default. I believe this to be true also because I just went to the windows home page, already signed in to my M$ account because I'm using build 10147 to do so, and I(without entering any other password first) saw this:

Welcome back, Insider

Thanks for being part of the program and helping shape Windows 10.

Anyways, none of this is answering my questions. But I think we both know that.

Maybe this does though.

This chart, inspired and expanded upon from this original chart by Amit Agarwal, spells everything out so you know exactly where you stand. If you have a legitimate copy of Windows 7, 8, or 8.1, you’re all set to get a free upgrade and you can reserve it now. If you’re running the Windows 10 preview, and it was installed over a valid license of Windows 7, 8, or 8.1, you also have access to the free upgrade. If you’re running anything older than Windows 7, or installed the Windows 10 preview beta without a previous license, you’ll have to fork over the $119 for the standard edition or $199 for the Pro edition. You can, however, continue to use further betas of Windows 10 no matter what.

And if Microsoft changes their mind again, we’ll be sure to update this flowchart as soon as possible.

http://lifehacker.com/find-out-if-you-get-a-free-upgrade-to-windows-10-with-t-1713466323

I say maybe, because I'm still wondering about usage of the product key on the OEM 7 DVD. Good? Or still no good?

 

[OneMoar]

if you do nothing and continue to run the windows insider builds you will always have a 'activated' copy of windows
if you want to move to the "stable" channel then you will require a key ...
its that simple folks

 

[MrGenius]

if you do nothing and continue to run the windows insider builds you will always have a 'activated' copy of windows
if you want to move to the "stable" channel then you will require a key ...
its that simple folks

Oh if only it were that simple...

A key yes. But what kind of key? The one on the COA sticker? Or the one "hidden" on the OEM DVD? Does it matter which? I think I'm gonna go throw up now...

 

[OneMoar]

Oh if only it were that simple...

A key yes. But what kind of key? The one on the COA sticker? Or the one "hidden" on the OEM DVD? Does it matter which? I think I'm gonna go throw up now...

your inability to read is quiet astounding
ANY "genuine" activated copy of windows 7 or 8 / 8.1 is eligible for the upgrade

 

[Pill Monster]

Ok, you might be right there. I can't recall exactly what they told me yesterday about all that. All I can remember is "please enter your M$ account password so we can verify some damn thing or another, then give us your email address twice, so we send you an email with a security code, which you'll need to enter here, to further verify some damn thing or another". And I don't know what other passwords I have besides my M$ account password, which definitely works to log on to build 10147. And I'm pretty sure also verifies that I'm part of the insider program. As I wouldn't be able to use any previous builds(since an M$ account/insider program membership is a prerequisite), and I can't log on to build 10147, without it. I don't believe there's any difference between having an M$ account and participating in the insider program, other than using a W10 preview build or not using one. I didn't actually sign up for the insider program, I signed up for an M$ account. Which in turn, allowed me to become part of the insider program by default. I believe this to be true also because I just went to the windows home page, already signed in to my M$ account because I'm using build 10147 to do so, and I(without entering any other password first) saw this:



Anyways, none of this is answering my questions. But I think we both know that.

Maybe this does though.




http://lifehacker.com/find-out-if-you-get-a-free-upgrade-to-windows-10-with-t-1713466323

I say maybe, because I'm still wondering about usage of the product key on the OEM 7 DVD. Good? Or still no good?

The one box missing in that flow chart is "are you part of the insider program?" Insider preview builds and insider accounts are mutually exclusive.

I read testers with insider accounts will get a retail version without needing 7 or 8. I mean think about it; how many test analysts run everything in VMWare...? lol It's only logical....

I'll see if I can find the link.

 

[MrGenius]

your inability to read is quiet astounding
ANY "genuine" activated copy of windows 7 or 8 / 8.1 is eligible for the upgrade

You're probably right. I'm just way overthinking it I guess. I couldn't activate it, thus making it "genuine", with the key on the DVD. So that answers that then.

Thanks for the

What I'm still wondering now is, how come it's so pleasurable to be berated by you? It makes me giggle every time. Again, it's like hearing it from a senile old fart or something. I just can't quite find a way to take it very seriously. It's just too cute like that I suppose.

BTW, there's someone else here that isn't reading things very thoroughly too you know. Why don't you pick on him...for a change? Just a suggestion.

 

[Pill Monster]

You're probably right. I'm just way overthinking it I guess. I couldn't activate it, thus making it "genuine", with the key on the DVD. So that answers that then.

Thanks for the

What I'm still wondering now is, how come it's so pleasurable to be berated by you? It makes me giggle every time. Again, it's like hearing it from a senile old fart or something. I just can't quite find a way to take it very seriously. It's just too cute like that I suppose.

Well you missed an absolute classic post by him over at Guru....
My God that was hilarious, well it wasn't really at the time since Hilbert banned me but but later on I realised how funny the situation was... Right OneMoar?

I guess u had to be there really...

 

[Ahhzz]

Soo.... what was that post? Obviously a manual attempt, as the messages were different. Threat? or Pirate?

 

[Steve-007UK]

Soo.... what was that post? Obviously a manual attempt, as the messages were different. Threat? or Pirate?

Someone linking to a dodgy google profile with loads of links to dodgy places to get dodgy codes for windows and other microsoft products, looked more fake than that sun tan lotion crap you buy in a bottle.

 

[Mussels]

typical spammer, nothing to see here citizen, move along.